With the name change that the brand has undergone, Duotone this year is still betting on a line that continues the same models that it had under North´s name.
We will try to clarify how to choose the Duotone kite or board that best suits your style and your spot so you can get all the juice out of it.
What follows is a personal opinion based on our experience, but we are sure that it will help you to choose the gear that best suits you and the one you will enjoy most during your kitesurfing hours.
Are you looking for a kite to jump high? Duotone Rebel is the kite you need. With a wide wind range and its easy handling, it makes it excellent for spots where wind is gusty because with small movements in the bar you get great variations in the power.
It is still a 4-line kite (you can still add the 5th) and if what you are looking for is a comfortable kite to ride and go huge, this is your best choice.
The differences between 2018 and Rebel 2019 are minimal, some changes in the leading edge and the shape. It's still a pretty powerful kite in its low range, so watch out on small sizes!
If you are not unhooking and you want to fly, this is your kite!
Bonus: It works very well with heavy people.
For 2019 the Duotone Evo is still a very stable 3-struts kite, which works in 4 lines and jumps reasonably well. It is a kite that will be good for almost all riders because it works more or less well in any condition and adapts to any level and type of riding. Let's say it's the best kite if you have not yet defined your riding style and you spend less than 10% of your time unhooked.
There are practically no differences between the 2018 and Evo 2019 models, they say that the small sizes have been tuned, but they are virtually the same kites.
This kite is quite powerful in its low range.
Are you looking for a bit more action in your sessions? Duotone Dice is a kite more oriented to riders who want to start to unhook and have a more freestyle orientation. It has a good drift, that is, it moves well if you surf a wave so it will also work well if you want to catch some.
It has good capabilities whether you want to unhook or want to surf, but it maintains an easy re-launch and good wind range, but remember that it is a kite that is not as powerful at is low end as others, but that stretches its high end a lot.
It is a kite that works well if you start to perform unhook tricks but still enjoys surfing waves and doing freeride.
Bonus: In small sizes it is the perfect weapon to kiteloop!
You can see our test / review of Duotone Dice 2019 here.
If your thing is to surf, the Duotone Neo 2019 is your kite. The key to this kite is that thanks to it, when you catch a wave you can focus on it rather than on the kite as it will be doing what it is supposed to do!
It is a kite with a fast and easy re-launch and with a good jumping ability. It offers a lot of power, so you can buy one or two meters less and you will get the same power as other models.
From our point of view, it is the best kite in the Duotone range for those riders who are beginners or want to do a bit of everything. It is our choice to do our kitesurf courses in Tarifa, where the conditions sometimes are not the easiest. Its upside are undoubtedly its power, easy re-launch and ease of use. Without a doubt, it is a kite that is good for most riders and spots.
You can see our test / review of Duotone Neo 2019 here.
Duotone Mono is a 1-strut 4-line kite that works well with light wind due to its low weight. It is a kite that brings out its capabilities if you use a foil under your feet.
It is a good option if you use it with a foil and in spots with low and constant winds.. Once you get it out of these winds and use, its 1-strut design makes it unstable in gusty or stronger winds as well as get used very fast through the vibrations.
But above all, just spending a bit more, you can buy a Duotone Neo or any other model in the range!
Duotone Juice is a kite that works well for heavy people or for places where there is usually not much wind. Its characteristics are very similar to the Duotone Neo, and it is a very good kite for those places where there is not much wind!
Duotone Vegas is a very technical kite and you will only get the best out of it if you are already making handle-passes. If you spend more than 80-90% of your time unhooked and you already make passes in the air, this is the best option. If your level is not there yet, you should go for a Dice or Evo, as progression will be easier and you will not sacrifice hangtime, lift and ease of use.
Bonus: If you are looking for a kite to kiteloop, it's much better a Duotone Dice!
You can see our test / review of Duotone Vegas 2019 here.
This year the Click Bar comes in 2 sizes. We have S with 20-22m of lines and M with 22-24m of line. Its main advantages are its automatic untwisting safety system, adjustable line length and V position, and of course, its depower system.
You can see our test / review of Duotone Click Bar 2019 here.
We also have the traditional option with the Trust Bar. It is the same bar that we have been using for many years, with the depower in the front lines and the safety system to a front line. Good, easy and much cheaper.
You can see our test / review of Duotone Trust Bar 2019 here.
In this section, we will group twintip boards by their orientation and program, that way we find boards more oriented to be used with boots / Wakestyle, boards more oriented to freeride / freestyle and light wind boards.
In this group we find boards that have been designed for boots. The Gambler 2019 is looking more towards the style of wakestyle and park riding, being quite hard and not working too well with chopy. There is also the Team Series, which is what most riders use in competitions. It works quite well with the chopy and is a very comfortable board, but only if you wear boots on it! Halfway between park riding and wakestyle is TS Hadlow. These last 2 models come in carbon fiber.
Bonus: If you are starting, they are not the best choice as upwind will be harder!
In this group we have boards designed for a wider audience, as they adapt mostly to any style and helps with your upwind. We have Jaime and Select. Jaime does not need a presentation after so many years, but it is the board that adapts mostly to any person and style of riding, being a little more focused on jumps .. If there is a lot of chopy in your spot it is surely your best option.
The Select is a very comfortable board that slides through the water. Forget the knee pain with this board. Both have their carbon variants.
Bonus: Buy the NTT footstraps / pads, they cost more but the difference with the Vario is brutal!
Here we find the Soleil, which is a mini Jaime adapted for girls, with smaller sizes and a reduced stance with its carbon variant.
We also have the Spike as a board for light wind or very heavy people, much larger than usual. It can be a good choice for those spots where you normally just get a breeze. There is also the carbon option.
And finally, we have the eternal Gonzales, the cheapest board to access the range. It is recommended for beginners and is the board of choice for most kitesurf schools for its simplicity and easy use. It is our favorite board for our kitesurf courses in Tarifa . Rides easy, goes upwind and has loads of grip.
Remember that if you are looking for second-hand Duotone Kiteboarding gear you have our website with some opportunities!
Carla and Rodri, combined experience flying kites of more than 30 years. And a Kitesurf World Championship...🔥